Multiple circuit control switch with improved pivotable operating means

ABSTRACT

An electrical switch includes a body having a hollow portion closed at one end by a cover and an operating member mounted within the body for pivotal movement relative to the body. The switch further includes two sets of electrical contacts within the body, the contacts being operable in response to pivotal movement of the operating member in opposite directions respectively from an intermediate position. The operating member has a pair of oppositely directed fingers, the fingers extending within respective apertures in the hollow portion of the body.

United States Patent Inventor Edward lligham Cryer nr. Burnley, England Appl. No. 874,254 Filed Nov. 5, 1969 Patented Oct. 12, 1971 Assignee Joseph Lucas (Industries) Limited Birmingham, England Priority Nov. 18, 1968 Great Britain 54549/68 MULTIPLE CIRCUIT CONTROL SWITCH WITH IMPROVED PIVOTABLE OPERATING MEANS 6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 200/1 TK, 200/6 BA, 200/153 L, 741567 R Int. Cl H01h 9/00, I-IOlh 19/00 Field of Search 200/1, 6 B,

153.11, 153.12, 153.13, 6 BA, 153 L, 153 LA, 153 LB; 74/567 A, 568 L, 569 L, 567, 568, 569

Primary Examiner-J.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1950 Mossman ..200/l (ATK) UX 7/1951 Babcock,.lr.... ....200/l (ATK) UX 6/1960 DuBeau 200/1 (ATK) 8/1960 McRoberts et al. .200/153( 13) X 9/1962 Martin 200/l53( ll)X 1/1963 Prace et al.. 200/1 (ATK) 3/1969 Bailey et a1. 200/1 (ATK) R. Scott Attorney-Holman & Stern ABSTRACT: An electrical switch includes a body having a hollow portion closed at one end by a cover and an operating member mounted within the body for pivotal movement relative to the body. The switch further includes two sets of electrical contacts within the body, the contacts being operable in response to pivotal movement of the operating member in opposite directions respectively from an intermediate position. The operating member has a pair of oppositely directed fingers, the fingers extending within respective apertures in the hollow portion of the body.

FATENTEDHET 12 |97l 3. 6 l 784 SHEET 1 [IF 2 FIGQI.

INVENTOE A T5NEYs MULTIPLE CIRCUIT CONTROL SWITCH WITH IMPROVED PIVOTABLE OPERATING MEANS This invention relates to electrical switches.

A switch according to the invention comprises, a body including a hollow portion closed at one end by a cover, an operating member mounted within the body for pivotal movement relative thereto, two sets of electrical contacts within the body and operable in response to pivotal movement of the operating member in opposite directions respectively from an intermediate position, and a pair of oppositely directed fingers on the operating member, said fingers extending within respective apertures in the wall of the hollow portion of the body.

In the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a gear lever knob for a road vehicle, incorporating a switch according to one example of the invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 in FIG. 1 with the body of the switch omitted.

Referring to the drawings, the switch includes a body 11 including a hollow zinc die-cast portion 12 which is secured to a hollow gear lever 13. The end of the portion 12 remote from the gear lever 13 is closed by a further part of the body 11 in the form of a moulded synthetic resin cap 14 which is received as a snap fit on the portion 12. Extending downwardly from the cap 14 is a hollow spigot 15 which is closed at its lower end by an integral base 16. Secured to the base 16 and extending from both faces thereof, in parallel relation to one another are a pair of contacts 17, 18 which define at their ends remote from the cap 14 respective blade terminals. Positioned between the blades 17, 18 are a pair of resilient blade contacts 19, 21 which are spaced apart adjacent the cap 14, and which pass through the base 16 in contact with one another, to define a single blade terminal on the side of the base remote from the cap 14.

The spigot 15 extends within a hollow, moulded synthetic resin, operating member 22 which includes a pair of inwardly directed pivot posts 23 which are received in corresponding apertures in the wall of the spigot 15 and which serve to support the operating member on the spigot 15 for pivotal movement relative thereto. Adjacent the cap 14 the wall of the spigot 15 is formed with a pair of diametrically opposite, generally triangular apertures 24, 25 which are positioned with their apices adjacent the cap 14. A brass roller 26 extends through the apertures 24, 25 and passes between the resilient blades 19, 21. The ends of the roller 26 are received in respective axially extending channels 27, 28 in the operating member 22, and the roller 26 is urged towards the apices of the apertures 24, 25 by a pair of helical compression springs 29 acting between the ends of the roller 26 and the closed ends of the channels 27, 28 respectively the walls of said apertures 24, 25 constituting cam surfaces engaged by a cam follower constituted by the roller 26.

As its end remote from the cap 14 the operating member 22 is formed with a pair of outwardly extending, diametrically opposite, integral fingers 31, 32, which extend through respective apertures 33, 34 in the wall of the portion 12 of the body 1 1.

The operation of the switch is as follows. The resilience of the blades 19, 21 and the coaction of the roller 26 with the walls of the apertures 24, 25 under the action of the springs 29, urges the operating member 22 to a central position wherein the blade 19 is spaced from the blade 17 and the blade 21 is spaced from the blade 18. In order to complete an electrical circuit between the blade 19 and the blade 17, the finger 31 is pushed inwardly thereby causing the operating member 22 to pivot in an anticlockwise direction, relative to the spigot 15. Since the ends of the roller 26 are engaged in the channels 27, 28 of the operating member 22 then the roller 26 is constrained to move with the operating member 22. Thus as the finger 31 is pushed inwardly the roller 26 is moved to the left, and the blade 19 is flexed into contact with the blade 17. During movement of the roller from the central position, the roller is forced to move in a direction away from the cap 14, against the action of the springs 29 by enga cment of the roller with the inclined walls of t e apertures 4, 25.

Thus when the finger 31 is released the combined action of the blade 19 and the springs 29 returns the roller 26, and the operating member 22 to the central position wherein the circuit between the blade 19 and the blade 17 is broken. The sequence of operations necessary to complete an electrical circuit between the blade 21 and the blade 18 is similar to that described above with the exception that the finger 32 is pushed inwardly to cause the operating member to pivot in a clockwise direction. The portions of the spigot 15 on the opposite sides of the blade 17, 18 from the roller 26 are cut away, so that in the event that the operating member 22 is moved through more than the distance necessary to complete the respective electrical circuit, then the blades 17, 18 can flex to accommodate the excess movement.

In a practical embodiment of the switch, the switch is used to control the overdrive facility of a road vehicle. The blades 19, 21 are electrically connected to one terminal of the battery of the road vehicle, the blade 17 is electrically connected through the energizing winding of a latching relay, which controls engagement of the overdrive of the vehicle, to the other terminal of the battery, and the blade 18 is electrically connected through the release winding of the latching relay also to the other terminal of the battery. Thus by depressing the finger 31 into the body 11 the circuit for the energizing winding of the relay is completed, and the overdrive of the vehicle is engaged. As stated above, the relay is of the self-latching type, and so remains closed when the button 31 is released breaking the circuit between the blades 17,19. In order to disengage the overdrive the finger 32 is depressed into the body, thereby completing the electrical circuit through the release winding of the relay and allowing the relay to open and thereby disengage the overdrive.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electrical switch comprising in combination a hollow body, a cover closing one end of the hollow body, an operating member mounted within the body, means mounting the operating member for pivotal movement relative to the body, first and second sets of electrical contacts within the body, the first and second sets of contacts being associated with said operating member, so as to be operable in response to pivotal movement of the operating member relative to the body in opposite directions respectively from an intermediate position, and, a pair of fingers carried by the operating member and extending outwardly therefrom in opposite directions, said fingers extending within respective apertures in the wall of said body, so as to be accessible from the exterior of the body.

2. A switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body is adapted to be mounted on the free end of the gear selector lever of a road vehicle.

3. An electrical switch as claimed in claim 1 further including resilient means urging the operating member to said intermediate position.

4. An electrical switch as claimed in claim 3 further including cooperating cam and cam follower means, operatively associated with the operating member and the body, said resilient means acting on said cam follower and the cam follower and the cam being such that the interaction of the cam follower with the cam serves to urge the operating member to said intermediate position.

5. A switch as claimed in claim 4 wherein said cam follower includes a roller carried by the operating member, and said cam includes the wall of an aperture in the body, said roller being urged into engagement with said wall and said wall being so shaped that the action of said roller on said wall urges the operating member to said intermediate position.

6. A switch as claimed in claim 5 wherein said contacts are operable by said roller in response to pivotal movement of the operating member. 

1. An electrical switch comprising in combination a hollow body, a cover closing one end of the hollow body, an operating member mounted within the body, means mounting the operating member for pivotal movement relative to the body, first and second sets of electrical contacts within the body, the first and second sets of contacts being associated with said operating member, so as to be opeRable in response to pivotal movement of the operating member relative to the body in opposite directions respectively from an intermediate position, and, a pair of fingers carried by the operating member and extending outwardly therefrom in opposite directions, said fingers extending within respective apertures in the wall of said body, so as to be accessible from the exterior of the body.
 2. A switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body is adapted to be mounted on the free end of the gear selector lever of a road vehicle.
 3. An electrical switch as claimed in claim 1 further including resilient means urging the operating member to said intermediate position.
 4. An electrical switch as claimed in claim 3 further including cooperating cam and cam follower means, operatively associated with the operating member and the body, said resilient means acting on said cam follower and the cam follower and the cam being such that the interaction of the cam follower with the cam serves to urge the operating member to said intermediate position.
 5. A switch as claimed in claim 4 wherein said cam follower includes a roller carried by the operating member, and said cam includes the wall of an aperture in the body, said roller being urged into engagement with said wall and said wall being so shaped that the action of said roller on said wall urges the operating member to said intermediate position.
 6. A switch as claimed in claim 5 wherein said contacts are operable by said roller in response to pivotal movement of the operating member. 